Onkologie. 2020:14(4):157-161 | DOI: 10.36290/xon.2020.058

The current position of proton radiotherapy in a comprehensive treatment of breast cancer

Barbora Ondrová, Andrea Pásztorová, Jiří Kubeš

Proton Therapy Center Czech, s. r. o., Praha

Adjuvant iradiation is frequently used for treatment of non-metastatic breast cancer patients. Althought photon irradiation improved local control and overal survival, its use could lead to unacceptable increas of cardiovascular toxicity or secondary cancer risk. Proton therapy due to its dosimetric advanatages compared to photon radioterapy decreases the integral dose, dose to organs at risk and at the same time allows optimal coverage of the treatment volume. This advantage is more evident in more complex volumes, like in cases where internal mammary nodes have to be irradiated, and in younger patients with left-sided breast cancer. Available early clinical data confirms that proton irradiation is feasbile and not connected with unacceptable or unexpected risk of complications. Ongoing clinical trials and data collection during the follow-up will lead to identification of prognostic factors, which could help in identifying of patients, who will most benefit from proton radioterapy use.

Keywords: proton radiotherapy, breast cancer, radiotherapy toxicity.

Published: September 23, 2020  Show citation